The Christian East within the Roman Empire suffered severe persecution, especially in the Church of Egypt and Palestine, during the time of

the tyrant Diocletian,

who ascended the throne

in 284 AD.

The governor of Egypt

at that time

was Aurelius Achilleus who declared himself king over Egypt and made his headquarters in Thebes.

The Roman governor could not subdue him,

prompting Diocletian

to come to Alexandria himself to do so.

He succeeded in capturing

the city, burning it,

and massacring its inhabitants, believing that the Christians had supported Achilleus.

The persecution in Egypt continued for three years

(from 303 to 305 AD).

Diocletian later suffered from insanity and abdicated the throne to Galerius,

his son-in-law.

During this time, Pope Peter (the 17th patriarch) sat on the throne of Saint Mark in 301 AD, while the persecution against Christians continued, marked by severe suffering and many tortures. He was the one who ordained the heretic Arius as a deacon. After Arius began spreading his corrupt teachings and persisted in them, the patriarch defrocked and excommunicated him, cutting him off from communion with the Church. This decision followed a vision in which Pope Peter saw Christ with a torn and tattered robe. When he asked Christ, “Who tore Your robe, my Lord?” He replied, “Arius has torn My robe, do not accept him.”

Pope Peter was martyred by beheading in 311 AD, after serving for 11 years. Before his soul departed, he revealed to his disciples, Achillas and Alexander, that they would be the 18th and 19th patriarchs, respectively, after him and advised them not to accept Arius.

Pope Achillas (the 18th patriarch) sat on the throne in 312 AD, during the reign of Emperor Constantine. When he assumed the throne of Saint Mark, Arius cunningly sought reconciliation, claiming repentance and asking to be restored to the communion of the Church. Many prominent figures interceded for him. Seeing this apparent humility, Pope Achillas trusted him and reinstated Arius to his rank, even ordaining him as a presbyter. However, just a few months later, the patriarch passed away, having sat on the throne of Saint Mark for only six months.

It is said that Arius attempted to nominate himself for the position of patriarch, but the clergy and the people rejected him.

In 312 AD, Pope Alexander (the 19th patriarch) sat on the throne. He was an elderly and revered man known for his knowledge, godliness, and honesty. The people considered him to be a saint, and it was said of him that he would read the Holy Gospel while standing and light was shining before him.

The heresy of Arius began to spread, and this hypocrite dared to oppose the elderly and revered pope, causing a great schism throughout the churches of the East. On one occasion, the pope delivered a sermon on Christ’s power to raise the dead, explaining His authority. Arius interrupted, declaring that this was not the teaching of the Gospel. The following Sunday, Arius gave a sermon titled “My Father is Greater than I,” and with his devilish eloquence, he managed to attract many followers, including two bishops and some priests, through deceit and lies. He even used women and virgins to spread his destructive ideas. As a result, Pope Alexander convened a holy council and excommunicated Arius and anyone who followed his teachings and heresy. The pope also sent letters to the bishops of the East to inform them of the developments and the excommunication of Arius and his heresy.

Despite this, Arius persisted in his stubbornness and arrogance, continuing to spread his corrupt teachings. Pope Alexander was forced to expel him from Alexandria, along with the two bishops who had fallen into his heresy, as well as some priests and deacons. Arius went to Palestine, where he flattered its bishops and slandered Pope Alexander with false accusations. He even set his heresy to music in a book called “Thalia,” encouraging the people to sing its heretical phrases denouncing Pope Alexander who remained steadfast in defending the true orthodox faith.

Unfortunately, Arius succeeded in convincing some of the bishops in Palestine that he was in the right and that Pope Alexander had unjustly excommunicated him. These bishops decided to lift Arius’ excommunication and allow him to return to Alexandria to continue spreading his corruption and heresy.

However, Pope Alexander insisted on maintaining the excommunication, and his disciple, Deacon Athanasius, wrote a pamphlet against Arius’ heresy, declaring it to be a corrupt teaching. The conflict and debate continued, escalating into riots, quarrels, and violence, despite all attempts to restore order or return to righteousness… but to no avail.

Emperor Constantine sent a devout bishop to investigate the unrest in Alexandria. The bishop’s report to the emperor confirmed that Arius and his followers were in the wrong, and he informed the emperor of Pope Alexander’s desire to convene a general council. The emperor agreed and approved this proposal, leading to the Council of Nicaea in 325 AD, an event we will celebrate in 2025, marking 17 centuries since its convening, God willing.

As for Pope Alexander,

five months after the council,

he fell ill and passed away

in 326 AD, having advised

the Church to choose his disciple, Deacon Athanasius,

as his successor.

And so it was.

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